Mary McDowell Friends School is a K-12 college preparatory program dedicated to the success of students with learning disabilities. Grounded in the Quaker values of equality, integrity, and social responsibility, we cultivate a diverse community in which all students can reach their full potential. Our specialized teaching methodologies and challenging curricula empower students to become academic achievers, creative thinkers, and contributing members of a global society.

Mary McDowell Friends School (MMFS) seeks a mission-driven Director of College Guidance for the 2023-24 academic year beginning July 1st, 2023.

Overview: The Director of College Guidance is part of a robust college guidance program. This professional provides students with proactive and highly personal support to match them with post-secondary programs, colleges, and universities best suited to their individual interests, goals, and needs and to guide them and their families through the entire college process.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

• Lead and manage the College Guidance office, which includes an Assistant Director of College Guidance and any other college guidance personnel.
• Supervise and evaluate other members of the college guidance team.
• Guide the members of each year’s graduating class through the transition to postsecondary education.
• Educate students and families on a broad range of colleges and universities, as well as other postsecondary programs, summer opportunities, financial aid, and specialized performance-based admissions.
• Build and maintain relationships with students, parents, faculty and staff, and admissions officers.
• Write personalized letters of recommendation for a cohort of about 15-25 students in the graduating senior class and supervise other members of the department in the completion of their recommendation letters.
• Teach the college seminar classes to all juniors and seniors.
• Meet with students individually to advise on course selection and consequences in the college selection process.
• Provide guidance with college applications and essays.
• Invite and host college visitors to campus each fall/spring.
• Host family meetings.
• Hold educational evening events.
• Co-supervise standardized testing administration and secure accommodations.
• Advise faculty in their writing of college recommendations.
• Collaborate with the Academic Dean and US Director on curriculum, programming, and policy decisions as they impact the college admissions process.
• Keep the upper school administration abreast of the latest trends in college admissions.
• Attend national and regional conferences as well as other professional development opportunities to stay abreast of the latest college admissions trends.
• Visit college campuses to establish and maintain relationships with college admission staff.
• Reviews, adjusts and improves the college guidance program each year.
• Supervise the transmission of student files to colleges/programs.
• Prepares report for Head of School to share with the board of trustees
• Write college guidance columns for the monthly newsletter, the MMFS college handbook, and the school profile.
• Maintain the college guidance calendar and budget.

Diversity and Equity Commitments:

• Understand and participate in all school-wide diversity and equity initiatives.
• Examine administrative practice through the lens of race, identity, equity, and privilege.
• Provide an equitable framework for leadership decisions.
• Support a school culture that allows for social identities to feel welcome.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, this position’s annual base salary range is $135,000-$180,000. Mary McDowell Friends School considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, essential skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Physical Demands

This job requires the ability to maintain the physical capacity required to navigate the school environment and ensure the students’ safety. It also requires the ability to open filing cabinets and bend or stand for long periods of time, as necessary. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. An employee must meet the physical demands described here to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a twelve-month administrative position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a half-hour paid lunch; faculty meetings occur every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand and will be scheduled in advance.

Travel

Travel to universities and colleges is necessary; attend conferences on occasion. Travel is scheduled with advance notice.

Credentials and Education:

• Master’s degree required
• Significant experience in college admissions or independent school college guidance
• Exceptional writing and public speaking skills
• Excitement about working with students with learning disabilities
• Interest in participating in the wider school community
• Sense of humor a plus
• Experience with SCOIR and the Google Suite.
• Sound judgment and discretion
• Strong work ethic and attention to detail
• Fluency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, & Google Docs